Motor-control system.



E. R. UARIOHOPP.

MOTOR CONTROL SeYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED sums, 1905. RENEWED FEB. 23, 1906.

949,995 Patented Feb. 22, 1910 5 Eugene R. Carichoffi M, W I eqeee.

- nnrr srrr n en.

EUGENE R. GARICHOFF. O'iE EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TD GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MOTOR-CONTROL SYSTEM.

erases.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1918.

Application filed January 28, 1905, Serial No. 243,043. Renewed February 23, 1908. Serial No. 302,487.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that LEUGENE a citizen of the United States, residing at East Grange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor- Control Systems, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to control apparatus for motors and particularlyto apparatus of the character designed to controla motor or a plurality of motors from a distant point.

In control apparatus in which the direction of rotation and the speed of electric motors are determined by motor control apparatus governed by a master-switch located at a distant point, it is desirable to have the motor control apparatus automatic or semi-automatic in character and at the same time simple in construction and certain in action. It is furthermore desirable.

that the system be so arranged that the master-switch device maybe simple in form and in operation and so arranged as not to necessitate an auxiliary source of current supply for energizing the control systern.

The objects of the present invention are to so construct and arrange the parts of a control system that the system shall embody the features heretofore mentioned.

To the above ends, I so construct and arrange the parts of a control system that the master-switch device consists of a simple switch comprising a single arm engaging with a plurality of contacts and but a single wire is necessary to connect the masterswitch to the motor control apparatus.

Where the present system is used in connection with multiple unit railway control, the

- single wire extend-s throughout the train and serves to control the motors on the several motor cars of the train. Y

The present invention will be more clearly understood in connection with the following description of one embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically a control system arranged in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a train of two cars and the wiring thereof; and Fig. 3 is a detail of a portion of the mastercontroller.

R. CARIoHorr,

Similar reference characters will be used throughout the specification and drawing to indicate like parts.

Reference being had to Fig. 1, M and M indicate the motors of a two-motor car equipment; L is a motor controller of the separately-actuated type; BS is a reversing-switch; A and B represent two ear wires; C and C are two master-switches adapted to connect either car wire to the train-wire D.

T is a trolley or other current-collecting device carried by the car and this trolley may be connected permanently to one of the ear wires, and the other car wire may be connected permanently to the ground. However, in order that the cars may be turned end for end in making up a train,

a switch E is provided for connecting either wire to ground or to trolley, and the other to trolley or to ground.

F is a master controller-actuating device having two actuating coils f and 7 con-- nected in series between wire A and wire B. Consequently, when the switch E is in one of its operative positions coils f 7' will both be energized. Arranged within the coils f and'f are magnetic core pieces 7' and f respectively, connected together by means of the rod or stem f*. It is evident that so long as both coils f and f are energized no movement of the cores will result. Train- -wire D is connected to the coils f and f at a point intermediate the adjacent terminals 'of. the coils, as at F. If one ofthe masterswitches is connected to car-wire A, one of the coils f, 7 will be shorbcircuited,while if the master-switch is placed in connection with car wire B the other coil will be shortcircuited, thereby providing for operating the connected cores in either direction and for connecting themotors for propelling the car in the forward or in the reverse direction.

Extending from the stem f is an arm 7" provided with contact members 1 and 2 which are suitably insulated from the arm and from each other. These contacts are arranged to engage respectively with elongated fixed contacts 3 and 4E, and 5 and 6, respectively, for energizing the reverser swltch actuating coils 1' and a" in order to throw the reverser-switch in the proper di rection as determined by direction of movement of the magnetic cores. The arm f is also operatively associated with a rod f provided at its opposite ends with pistons 7' f moving in cylinders 7 and 8. Springs 8) and surround the rod f and extend from the pistons to points adjacent the middle of the rod, at which points they bear against collars l1 and 12, loosely surrounding the rod and with which the arm f is adapted to engage. A movement of the connected cores in one direction or the other tends to move the rod f and, if this rod'is not free to be moved, thencompresses the spring 9 or 10, depending upon the direction of movement of the cores. As soon as the rod f is free to move, the compressed spring expands and forces the rod axially, subject to the retarding effect of the dash-pots. The rod 7" carries the member G constituting the movable member of the master-controller, a movement of the rod f producin' a corresponding movement in the contro ller member G. The member G comprises a movable.

plate 9 adapted to cooperate with fixed contacts g 9 g and g, together with the contact plate 9 whichcooperates with fixed contacts 9' to 9 these two contact plates being insulated from each other.v lhe memher G of the master-controller is provided with a rack G with which a pin h actuated by electromagnet H cooperates in order to lock said member G in any one of several running positions. The plate 9 and coopcrating fixed contacts serve simply to stop the master controller in its full series position until the operator desires to connect the motors in para lel, while the plate y controls the control circuits of the motor-controller L.

I is a throttle rela the actuating coil of which is energized by motor current, and thisrelay, together with a second relay K controls the electroma net H. The arrangement of parts is such t at the circuits for the reversing switch are com leted prior to the closing of the circuits or the motor-controller in order to insure the proper operation of the reversing switch before the motorcontroller switches are actuated.

Assuming the master. switch 0 to be placed in the position shown in dotted lines, namely, so as to connect car-wire A to train-wire D,

coil f of the reverser is short-circuited by reason of its terminals being connected together throu h car-wire A; one terminal be ing connecte directly to this wire as shown and the other terminal being connected thereto through the'wire 13, contact 9 con- 1 tact plate 9' to contact g, coil of relay K,

train-wire D and master-switch C. Current flows from wire A, through the circuit just traced, to the point f, thence through coil 7, car-wire B to ground; the cores f and if will therefore e drawn toward the le t. Current also flows. through the coil of electroma et H, through the contacts 2' t of thrott e relay I and thence to contact y", con:'

.necting the coil of electromagnet tact plate g, and contact g, in parallel with the circuit through the coil of relay K. Consequently, at the same time that the coil f is energized, electromagnet' H 'will also be energized and the rod 1" and movable portion G of the master-controller become free electroma net H and allowing the pin it to engage with the teeth of the rack G thus checking the movement of the controller member G and permitting the cores 7 and f to compress the spring 10 upon the rod j. lVhen the motor current falls to a normal 'value the magnet H is a ain energized and the spring 10, in expan ing, continues the movement of the master-controller.

The motor-controller L may be of an I usual or preferred type, that illustrated bein' similar to the controller shown and descri ed in my Patent No. 763,658, granted June 28, 1904. The number of teeth in the rack G will, of course, depend upon the character of the motor-controller L. If, for instance, there are a large number of resistance steps in the motor-controller, a corresponding number of teeth may be formed in the rack, while if the resistance steps are few the number of teeth in the rack may be small. In addition to the locking action produced by the'throttle relay, a further locking action results from the action of the rela K. The plate 9 is so constructed that w en the mastercontroller has caused the motor controller to connect the motors in series with no resistance in circuit, contact is broken at q and 9 which are connected respectively 'master controller may be enabled to continue its movement it'is necessary to break circuit at the master-switch C, thereby deenergiz ing relay K and causing its movable memher is to engage with contacts [a is thus conii to wire 13 through contacts k k, g and U on again closing the master-switch relay'K oes not become energized, sincel-itscircuit is interrupted at is, andalso at but electromagnet H is energized and releases the con troller member G, which then continues its movement subject to the influence of throttle relay I, until a full parallel position is reached. In order to bring the master-controller to its oij' position it is necessary to throw the mast er-switch C to reverse, namely, so as to connect train-wire D to car-wire B. Coil f will now be energized and the controller eeaeee will be returned to its normal position without being interrupted by electromagnet II since the teeth on the rack bar G are inclined on oneface to permit the pin to ride over them. Means must be provided for positively stopping the master controller at its oil position, and for this purpose a pair of sliding catches 14 and 15 are mounted upon the stem f lhese catches are provided with shoulders 16 and 17 which are adapted to engage with a pin 18 actuated by an electromagnet N having its coil in series with the wire 13. When the master-switch is placed in either operative position, electromagnet N is energized and tends to raise the pin 18. Assuming that the master controller has been thrown to the left and is being reversed, the cores f and f will move toward the right and the shoulder 16 on the catch 14 will depress the pin 18 sufficiently to enable the catch to pass, but as soon as the catch passes the pin it rises, abuts against the square face of the catch 15, precatches .14 and 15.

venting any further movement of the master controller. The introduction of the catches l4 and 15 and the locking pin 18 necessitates a slightly diilerent mode of operation in starting the car or train from that just described. It is evident that when the mastercontroller is in its ofill position and the master-switch is thrown to one of its operative positions, the pin 18 will prevent the connected cores f and f from axial movement except within limits determined by the The catches 14 and 15 are yieldingly mounted and held in their normal positions by springs 19 and 20. As soon as the coil f is short-circuited, the cores move laterally until the catch 14: engages the pin 18, whereupon the catch is moved slightly against the tension 'of the spring 19. It now the master-switch C is moved to its ofl' position, breaking contact with both wires'A and B, the electromagnet N will be- I come deenergized and thepin 18 will drop.

As soon as the pin dropsthe catch 14 will be forced to its normal position by the spring 19, namely, to such a position that when electromagnet N is again energized upon the closing of the master-switch, the shoulder on the catch is free from the pin 18 and the connected cores are enabled to move uninterruptedly.

The motor-controller L consists of line contacts T to T resistance contacts R to R controlling resistance sections R to It, series contact S, and parallel contacts P and R together with the usual auxiliary interlocks. The various contacts of the motorcontroller act to connect the motors first in series with all resistance in circuit; then to cut out the resistance section by section; then to connect the motors in parallel with all the resistance in circuit; and finally to remove the resistance again, section by section.

The circuits for actuating the controller contacts are connected to trolley through contacts. g to g and plate 9 Slots 21 and 22 are cut in the plate g in such a manner that as the plate moves to the right or to the left the various circuits are suc c'essively energized so as to produce the proper motor connections. The various circuits through the motor-controller will not be described in detail since they may readily be traced on the drawing and since, further:

more, the controller Ii forms specifically no part of the present invention.

In Fig. 2, two cars are shown coupled together in the form of a train, the train-wires I) being united by a jumper 0. When one of the master-switches is in service the others are left in their 0% position; the wire I) on the second car being then connected to ground or to line by the master-switch on the leading car in unison with the wire I) on the leading car. Any number of cars may be coupled together and controlled from any one of the master-switches. 1

While I have described in .detail the best form 0 fthe present invention now known to me, I do, not desire to limit the present invention to the particular form shown, since in its broader aspects it may be embodied in various other forms, for instance, the mas- .ter co ntroller may operate directly as a motor-controller without the intervention of a separate motor-controller.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

1. In a system of motor-control, a source of current supply, a plurality of motors or groups of motors, controllers for said motors or groups of motors arranged to connect said motors or groups of motors .to said source of current supply for either direction of rotation, actuatin means for said controllers, a master-switch connected to said source of current supply, a single electrical connection between said master-switch and the several controller-actuating means.

2. Ina system of train-control, a source of current supply, a motor or group of motors on each of a plurality of cars, local controlling apparatus upon eachof said cars arranged to connect the motors to said source of supply for either direction of rotation, a master-switch connected to said source of current supply, and a single electrical connection between the controlling apparatus on the several cars and the master-switch.

3. In a'system of motor-control, a source of current supply, a plurality of motors or groups of motors, controllers for connectin said motors -or groups of motors'to sai source of current supply for either direction of rotation and for varying the speed of the connected to said source ofcurre'nt supply,

and an electrical connection between said controller-actuating means and said master'- switch comprising a single wire.

, 4. In a system of train-control, a source of current supply, a motor or motors upon each of a plurality of cars, local controlling apparatus upon each of said cars for connecting said motors to said source of current supply, actuating means for said controllers, a master-switch connected to said source of current supply, an electrical connection between said master-switch and said controller-actuating means comprising a single train wire, and means upon each of said cars-for maintaining the proper direction of rotation of the motors irrespective of the end for end position of the cars in the train.

5. In a system of motor-control, a source of current supply, a plurality of motors, resistances, control apparatus for connecting said motors to said source of current supply for either direction of rotation and for varying the amount ofsaid resistances in the motor-circuits, a master-switch, and an electrical connection between said master-switch and said control apparatus comprising a single wire.

6. In a system of motor-control, a source of current supply, a motor or group of motors, a controller for connecting said motor .or group of motors to the source of current supply and for varying the speed of said motor or group ot motors, actuating means for said controller, means for bringing said controller to rest in an intermediate position, a

master-switch connected to said sourcept current supply, and an electrical connection between the master-switch and said controller-acuating means comprising a single train wire.

7. In a system of motor-control, a source of current supply, a motor or group of motors, a motor-controller for connecting said motor or group of motors to said source or current supply and for varying the speed of i the motor or group of motors, actuating means for said controller including means for bringing said controller to rest in an intermediate position, a mastenswitch for controlling the operation of said controller, and means including a single wire between the.

master-switch and the controller-actuating means for supplying said controller-actuating means with current at the potential of the said source of supply. 7

8. In a system of motor-control, a source of current supply, a plurality of motors, a

series arallel controller, actuating means for sai controller, means for bringing said controller to rest in full series position, a

" master-switch, and a single wire connecting "said master-switch and said controller-actuating means.":-

circuit upon each of a plurality of cars, local t 9. In a system of train-control, a motorerases controlling apparatus for determining the direction of rotation of the motor or motors and the resistance in the motor-circuit, a master-switch, and a single train-wire connecting said switch to said controlling apparatus.

10. In a system of motor-control, a motorcircuit. a motor-controller, a lock for said controller, electromagnetic means for releasing said lock, and contacts associated with sand controller for deenergizing said electromagnetic means at a predetermined point in travel of the controller.

11. In a system of motor-control, amotor- J circuit, a motor-controller, a lock for said controller, electromagnetic means for releasing said lock, means controlled by motor current for denergizing said electromagnetic means, and means associated with the controller-for deenergizing said means when-the controller has reached a predetermined point in its travel.

12. In a. multi le-unit control, system, magnetic devices wlthin the several cars having difi'erential or opposed windings, a single pilotwire extending throughout the train, and connections from said pilot-wire to said ma etic devices at points between the oppose windin s.

13. In a multip e-unit control system, magnetic devices upon the, several cars having opposed or diflerential windings, means for normally impressing continuous current in series through said opposed windings, a pilot-wire extendi g throughout the train, and branch connections from said ilot-wire to said magnetic devices at points etween the opposed windin 4 14. In a system for contro ling a plurality of motors, the combination of a master-controller, motor reversing. and speed-controlling mechanisms governed thereby, and a single conductor connecting said master-controller and said mechanisms.

15. In a system for controlling a plurality of motors, the combination of a master-controller, motor reversing and motor resistance controlling mechanisms governed by said master-controller, a single conductor connecting said master-controller. and said mechanisms, and means at the master-controller for reversing the direction of the current through the said single conductor.

16. In a system for controlling a plurality of motors,'the combination of motor reversing switches, a pair of solenoids for operat ing each switch, the windings of each pair of solenoids being connected in series across the supply mains, a master-controller, a single conductorv connected to said master-controller and a point between each pair of solenoids, and means at the master-controller for connecting said conductor to one or the other of the supply mains.

17. In a system for controlling a plurality of motors, the combination of motor reversing switches, two solenoids for operating each switch, the windingsof each pair of solenoids being in series across the supply mains, and means independent of said switches for supplying one or the other so lenoid of eachpair of solenoids with an excess of current over that supplied to the other solenoid of the pair sufiicient to cause it to operate the said switch.

18. The combination with a plurality of motors, of means for controlling the forward, reverse and stop conditions of said motors from a distance, said means including one wire only between the controlling point and the motors,

19. In a multiple-unit-train-control system, the combination with aplurality of cars, of driving motors for the cars, and means for suitably controlling the forward, reverse and stop conditions of the motors upon all the cars of the train from one car, said means including one wire only between the various cars of the train.

20. In a multiple-unit-train-control system, the combination with a plurality of cars connected together to compose the train, of driving motors for the cars, controlling devices upon each car to control theforward, reverse and stop conditions of the motors of the respective cars and means for controlling the \operation of said devices from one car only,said latter means including a train Wire connected between the cars and extending throughout the train.

21. In a multiple-unit-train-control system, the combination with a plurality of cars, of driving motors for the cars, electro-magnetic switches upon each of the cars for suitably controlling the forward, reverse and stop operation of the motors of the same car, and means for controlling the operation of said electro-magnetic switches from one car of the train, said means includlng one wire only extending throughout the train and between the various cars.

22. In a .multiple-unit-train-control system, the combination with a plurality of cars, of driving motors therefor, a controlling circuit extending throughout the train and comprising a single train wire between the cars, and means for controlling forward, reverse and stop conditions of said motors from said single train wire.

23. In a multiple-unit-train-control system,the combination with a plurality of cars, ofdriving motors for the cars, electro-magnetic switches upon each car to suitably con trol the direction and speed of operation of the motors of the respective cars, a controlling circuit consisting ofasingletrainwire extending throughout the train and between the cars, and means for controlling said circuit to suitably control said switches.

- In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of January, 1905.

' EUGENE R. ,CARICHOF F.

Witnesses: J

FRANK N MURRAY, LEO C. Foss. 

